XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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$41,349 - $84,362

Country: United States

Currency: USD

Updated: 18 Feb 2019

Individuals Reporting: 54

Job Description for Research Administrator

Research administrators are responsible for supporting the research departments of educational institutions and non-profit organizations, among other businesses. They help their research departments to obtain funding by identifying funding sources and prepare the necessary forms and proposals to request funding, as well as disperse this funding to particular parties in need.

To determine which parties are deserving of funding, research administrators may need to perform objective evaluations, review submissions, and work with other researchers to determine how much funding is needed and for what reasons, such as materials, employees, and travel. These administrators often oversee the budgets of research departments to ensure that they are in compliance with limits and regulations.

Proficient computer skills are important in this position in order to keep statistics and databases regarding budget allocation and create reports of grant allotments. Strong teamwork and communication skills are highly beneficial in order to work well with the research department, upper management, and outside sponsoring parties, and the ability to work under minimal supervision is important, as well.

This is usually a full-time position in an office environment, though some travel may occasionally be necessary to work with various sponsors. A bachelor's degree may be a minimum requirement for this position, and prior experience in research may also be required. Some employers may prefer applicants who have a master’s degree. (Copyright 2019 PayScale.com)

Research Administrator Tasks

Assist the principle investigator with compiling, formatting, and finalizing project proposals to submit to grant programs.

Keep the principle investigator updated on grant information, help interpret grant requirements and policies, and ensure timely submission of paperwork.

Oversee the administration and budgeting of research grant funds, and ensure compliance with grant conditions and regulations.

Research Administrator Pay By Employer

Research Administrator Job Listings

Popular Skills for Research Administrator

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Research Administrators generally report applying a varied skill set to their work. Most notably, skills in Budget Management, Budgeting, Federal Grants, and Grant Management are correlated to pay that is above average, with boosts of 8 percent, 7 percent, 6 percent, and 6 percent, respectively. Most people experienced in Microsoft Excel also know Microsoft Word.

Pay by Experience Level for Research Administrator

Pay by Experience for a Research Administrator has a positive trend. An entry-level Research Administrator with less than 5 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $54,000 based on 117 salaries provided by anonymous users. Average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay. A Research Administrator with mid-career experience which includes employees with 5 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $61,000 based on 97 salaries. An experienced Research Administrator which includes employees with 10 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $71,000 based on 85 salaries. A Research Administrator with late-career experience which includes employees with greater than 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $83,000 based on 9 salaries.

Pay Difference by Location

For Research Administrators, San Francisco provides a pay rate that is 29 percent greater than the national average. Research Administrators can also look forward to large paychecks in cities like Chicago (+27 percent), Palo Alto (+26 percent), Seattle (+24 percent), and Houston (+17 percent). Research Administrators in Rochester report much lower salaries than the rest of the country — 24 percent below the national average — proving that residence is a major factor in overall pay. Employers also pay below the national average in Pittsburgh (18 percent lower) and Tampa (16 percent lower).

Research Administrator Advice

Q: What is it like working as a Research Administrator?

Research Administrator in Louisville:

Share your knowledge about the daily responsibilities, career path, stress levels, perks and valuable skills associated with this job.

Research Administrator in Boston:

Pros: 1. Every day is different and brings new challenges; 2. Casual environment; 3. Many opportunities to learn new skill sets.

Cons: Lack of uniform policies and procedures throughout the university.